Mapping Identity: A Psychogeographical Exploration of Urban Spaces in Jhumpa Lahiri’s “The Third and Final Continent"

This study applies the theory of psychogeography, and its principles in analysing Jhumpa Lahiri's story, "The Third and Final Continent". It examines the impact of metropolitan settings on the protagonist's emotional and psychological experience as he travels through Calcutta, London, and Boston. Psychogeography, propounded by the Situationist International movement, offers a theoretical structure for comprehending the influence of geographical environments on human behaviour, identity, and emotional conditions. Through an analysis of the protagonist's encounters with various metropolitan environments, the study uncovers the profound interconnection between experiences of alienation, confusion, and adaptation to the cities in which he resides. Furthermore, the study explores fundamental psychogeographical concepts including emotional mapping, the spectacle of urban life, and the reclamation of space to demonstrate how the protagonist's journey mirrors wider concepts of migration and cultural assimilation. The study also highlights the crucial influence of urban settings on the formation of individual identity and the intricate connection between geography and psychology in Lahiri's narration.